Removable module train and trackway therefor

ABSTRACT

A train car which rolls along a main trackway carries on its top one or more removable modules which have outwardly extensible wheels which, when extended, engage auxiliary elevated tracks at the sides of the main trackway. The auxiliary trackway inclines upwardly to lift the module off the car and, eventually, downwardly to re-deposit the module onto the train car. The opposite sides of the auxiliary trackway are joined together by a web which commences and terminates at a level higher than the highest fixed object on the train car and higher than the top of the module when the latter is engaged on its top of the train car.

United States Patent 11 1 Denenburg 1 1 Apr. 29, 1975 1 REMOVABLE MODULETRAIN AND TRACKWAY THEREFOR 211 Appl. No.: 449.985

[52] U.S. Cl. 104/20: 104/33: 105/178 [51] Int. Cl Bblk 1/00 [58] Fieldof Search 104/20. 18. 27. 28. 29.

104/33. 32 R. 32 A, 130. 131. 135. 120; 105/178. 329 R. 340. 366 R. 366D; 214/38 B. 38 BA. 38 BB. 38 CE. 38 D 6D 0 o a E: III" 3.61 1.94510/1971 Euston et a1. 104/32 3.710.727 1/1973 Svensson 104/120 3.728.9744/1973 Lashlcy 105/329 R 3.735.710 5/1973 Hickman 104/20 X PrimaryEtuminer-M. Henson Wood, .lr. Assistant IituminerRando1ph A. Reese {5 7]ABSTRACT A train car which rolls along a main trackway carries on itstop one or more removable modules which have outwardly extensible wheelswhich. when extended. engage auxiliary elevated tracks at the sides ofthe main trackway. The auxiliary trackway inclines upwardly to lift themodule off the car and. eventually. downwardly to re-deposit the moduleonto the train car. The opposite sides of the auxiliary trackway arejoined together by a web which commences and terminates at a levelhigher than the highest fixed object on the train car and higher thanthe top of the module when the latter is engaged on its top of the traincar.

7 Claims. 15 Drawing Figures PAY-EEHEEAFRZSHTS SHEET 3 BF 4 FIGIO FIG."

REMOVABLE MODULE TRAIN AND TRACKWAY THEREFOR RELATED APPLICATIONDennenburg Transportation System Ser. 286.232 filed Sept. 5. 1972.

Easton. et al.. U.S. Pat. No. 3.6l 1.945; Post U.S. Pat. No. 2l(l.05l;Laskby U.S. Pat No. 3.728.974.

OBJECTS The Easton. et al.. patent (supra l discloses an air suspensionmain vehicle which normally moves along an elevated main trackway. and amodule having normally retracted wheels which may be extended outwardlyto engage auxiliary elevated trackways on opposite sides of the elevatedtrackway. whereupon the main trackway declines to a lower level. leavingthe module free to move along the auxiliary elevated trackways. Theobject now is to provide a system wherein the main vehicle normallymoves along a main trackway. preferably at ground level. and theauxiliary tracltway for the module is elevated. whereby the maintrackway provides for normal operation of a train car. and the elevatedtrackway for the modules can be routed through areas to be served by themodule while the train car continues on its way.

While it is necessary that the auxiliary trackways be not directlyconnected together so long as they are at their relatively lower levels.at which they can remove or deposit a module from or onto the main car.it is intended that these auxiliary trackways be joined together by aconnecting web as soon as they are sufficiently high that the web doesnot interfere with a main car with a module on its top. Thus. structuralrigidity of the auxiliary trackway is achieved.

These and other objects will be apparent in the following specificationand drawings. in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a main railway car with a module on top;

FlG. 2 is a diagrammatic horizontal cross section showing the modulewith wheels retracted inwardly.

FlG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2. but showing the module with wheelsextended outwardly.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic vertical section showing the module on top of atrain car with wheels retracted inwardly;

FlG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the module with wheelsextended outwardly engaging auxiliary tracks on opposite sides of themain trackway;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a main railway car witha module on top thereof. the module then with its wheels extendedoutwardly and engaging the elevated auxiliary trackway;

FIG. 7 is a view progressed from FIG. 6 showing the module starting upan inclined end of the elevated auxiliary trackway;

FIG. 8 is a view progressed from FIG. 7 showing the module disengagedfrom the main train car and progressing up the auxiliary elevatedtrackway while the main train car proceeds forwardly independently ofthcmodule and further showing the module proceeding along the level portionof the auxiliary trackway:

FIG. 9 is a view showing the module proceeding down an inclined endportion of the auxiliary trackway and about to be engaged by a maintrain car;

FIG. 10 is a view progressed from FIG. 9 showing the module proceedingtoward the end of the auxiliary trackway and about to be engaged by themain train car;

FlG. ll is a view progressed from FIG. l showing the module engaged ontop of the main train car and progressed beyond the end of the auxiliarytrackway;

FlG. 12 is a diagrammatic lay-out for main lower level trackways andauxiliary elevated trackways;

FlG. l3 shows a main train car with two modules thereon;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of an alternate extensible wheel system with wheelsretraced inwardly; and.

FIG. I is a view similar to FIG. [4. but showing the wheels extended.

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denotesimilar elements. there is shown a railway system designed essentiallyas a model railway. but whose principles of operation are adaptable to afull scale passenger railway system.

Referring first to FlGS. ll l, the system is comprised of a main railwaycar 2 which rolls along a main trackway 4 which will assume to be atground level and of conventional configuration. Car 2 has conventionalwheels 6. some or all of which are driven by motors 8. Perched on topofthe main car 2 is a module whose rear end engages in a pocket [2 in anabutment H on the top of car 2 and whose front end engages against astop [6 in the main railway car top.

In a system designed for carrying passengers. abutment 14 would containa stairway running from the lower portion of car 2 to a door (not shown)in the front of the abutment which would register with a door on therear of the module.

The shapes of the tracks and wheels permit the wheels to be movedoutwardly into engagement on the tracks. and to be moved inwardlytherefrom without undo mechanical interference.

Module 10 has extensible front and rear wheels 18 and 20. the frontwheels being driven by a drive motor 22 through a differential 24 anddrive axles 26. The rear axles 28 are connected by a central support 29.Both the front and rear axles have insulating sections 26A and 28A.since the wheels on the sides of the modules are to be energized via thetracks upon which they roll. Conventional current collectors. not shown,are associated with the front axles and are connected through suitablecontrols to the drive motors so that the module can be started. stoppedand driven along the elevated trackway described hereinbelow. Theextensible wheels are supported on sleeve axles 30. 32. whichrespectively slide over axles 26 and 28. it being understood that thedrive axles 26 and sleeve axle 30 of the front wheels are splinedtogether so that the extensible wheels 18 will rotate with the driveaxles 26.

Mounted in the top of car 2 is a ram 34 which is normally retracted in arearward position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. but which may beextended to a forward position as indicated in FIG. 3. On the forwardend of the ram is a cross head 36 which through links 38 and 40 isconnected to a front pair of slides 42. 42 and a rear pair of slides 44.44. In the front and rear slides are cam grooves 46 and 48 into whichengage cam followers 50 and 52 on the front and rear sleeve axles. Thus.

when ram 34 is retracted, all of the module wheels are retracted andwhen ram 34 is extended (HO. 3). all of the front and rear wheels areextended. Across the bot tom of module is a bottom plate 54 which restsupon the car top when the module is engaged thereon. The module wheelshave frustoconical inner portions 56 and 58 which engage against theapex and one side of rails 62 which are in the shape of isoscelestriangles. and which are mounted on opposite sides of an elevatedtrackway 64. The elevated trackway consists of a relatively low levelportion 66. an upwardly inclined portion 68. and a relatively highportion 70. The relatively low-level portion and the lower portion oftheupwardly inclined portion of the elevated trackway has opposite sides 72and 74 which are separate from one another in that they are notconnected to one another by a cross web which would interfere with themain car. However. starting at a point indicated by the numeral 76 andfor the remainder of the elevated trackway and abo\ e the opposite sidesof the trackway are connected together directly by cross webs 75 whichcounteracts any tendency of the opposite sides of the trackway to spreadapart or move togetherv All of the elevated trackway is supported bypillars or columns (not shown).

More than one module may be carried upon a single car. As exemplified inFIG. 13. wherein the reference numerals incorporating the suffixes A. B.etc. correspond to those previously utilized. In FIG. 13. the car 2Acarries on its top two modules 10A. )8 whose rear ends are engagedagainst an abutment HA and whose front ends are engaged against stops16A and l6B. In this case two rams 34A and 348 in the car tops areutilized. lt is apparent that the movement of car 2A is in one directionwhen module 10A is being deposited and picked up onto or from theelevated trackway. and in the opposite direction if module 10B isdeposited or picked up.

Various mechanisms may be utilized for extending and retracting themodules wheels. such an alternate arrangement being shown by elementarydiagrams in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this example. the module 10' is providedwith a drive motor assembly 22' which may be shifted forwardly andrearwardly by rams on the main car top which directly engages beneaththe drive motor. The axles 80 and 82 for the front and rear wheels areextended and retracted by the forward and rearward shifting by the drivemotor 22'. In this example. the rear wheels may also be driven via arear drive shaft operating through a rear differential 24A. lntermediatedrive shafts 84 in the front and 86 in the rear are drivingly connectedto drive axles 80 and 82 by universal joints 88 and 90. The jointeddrive shafts constitute a lever system which shifts the wheels.

Referring to FIG. 6. car 2 with module 10 thereon. moving in thedirection of the arrow. has come to the low level portion 66 of elevatedtrack-way 64 and the ram 34 has shifted forwardly to extend the moduleoutwardly into engagement with the elevated tracks. ln FIG. 7. the carand module have progressed sufficiently so that the front of module 10has cleared stop 16. and at this point the module proceeds up theinclined portions 68 of the trackway as indicated by the arrow on themodule. From here on. the module proceeds on its own power until it isagain lodged upon the top of car 2. In FIG. 8. car 2 is proceeding onits way without module 10 and the latter is progressing up trackway 66until it reaches the intermediate portion 68 of the elevated trackway.It will be understood that the intermediate portion of the elevatedtrackway may be relatively short if it is used for getting the module toor from a single station where passengers or cargo can be boarded ordischarged from it. Alternatively. the portion of the elevated trackwaymay be routed around a considerable portion of a downtown section andmay include switches for changing the route. Eventually. module 10 is tobe re-engaged onto the top of a car 2. FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate thisprocess which is essentially the reverse of that described in connectionwith FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 9. module 10 is moving down the inclinedportion 66. and car 2 is moving beneath it. In FIG. 10. module 10 isalmost engaged onto the top of car 2. and in FIG. ll, module 10 hasre-engaged onto the top of car 2. and the car with the module thereonhas progressed beyond the end of the lower portion 64 of elevatedtrackway 14. and ram 34 has moved rearwardly so as to retract wheels 20and 22. Note that in FIG. 10 stop 16 has been depressed at the time whenthe module is almost engaged onto the top of the car 2.

In one further modification. not illustrated. the module wheels remainextended at all times. This could be accomplished simply by utilizingthe modules illus trated herein. without retracting the module wheels.While this has the advantages of mechanical simplicity. it requires moreclearance at the sides of the main trackway. since the module wheelsextend outwardly as far as the elevated tracks. or alternatively. thepermissible width of the module would be reduced if the oppo site sidesof the elevated trackway were disposed over the side edges of the car.

In the foregoing description and ensuing claims. the term "ground levelas applied to the main trackway is meant to mean that a significantportion thereof is at ground level. it being understood that otherportions thereof may be elevated or depressed.

in the foregoing description of operation. it has been assumed thatmotormen on car 2 or 2A and modules 10. 10A and 108 would control theirrespective cars and modules and that suitable signal means would beprovided for informing the motormen of the relative positions of thecars. and modules would be provided likewise. This system would includeoperating controls for the ram or rams so that the latter could beactuated from either the cab of the module or the cab of the car.

I claim:

I. A railway system. comprising a ground-level trackway.

a car having supporting wheels rollingly engaging said ground-leveltrackway. a module cngageable onto the top of said car. said modulehaving supporting wheels on opposite sides thereof shiftable betweeninwardly retracted position wherein they lie inwardly of the sides ofsaid car and outwardly extended position in which they project outwardlybeyond the sides of the car.

mechanism. including a mechanical power source on said car. for shiftingsaid module wheels between said positions.

an elevated trackway having at least opposite end portions overlying aportion of the ground-level trackway and spaced apart by a lengthrepresenting only a portion of the length of said ground-level trackway.

said elevated trackway having rails extending along the length thereof.said rails being laterally spaced from one another a distancecorresponding to the distance between the wheels on the opposite sidesof the module when the latter are extended outwardly and beingengageable by said wheels and the opposite end portions being disposedat a level to be engaged by the outwardly extended wheels on the modulewhen the latter is engaged on the car. an intermediate portion elevatedhigher than the opposite end portions and substantially higher above theground level trackway than the top of a module engaged on said car, andinclined portions connecting said opposite end portions and saidintermediate portion.

2. A railway system as claimed in claim I, the opposite end portions ofsaid elevated trackway having opposite sides spaced from one another soas to permit said car with a module thereon to pass therebetween.

the intermediate portion having opposite sides connected to one anotherby a cross web.

3. A railway system as claimed in claim 2. said car having abutmentmeans on the top thereof spaced apart from one another in thelongitudinal direction of the ear for receiving the module thcrebetween.

4. A railway system as claimed in claim 3. the mechanical power sourceof said mechanism comprising a ram disposed on the top of said car. saidmechanism further including shift-able means on said module engageableby said ram. and mechanical means operated by said shiftable means forextending and retracting said module wheels in response to movement ofsaid shit'table mechanism from one position to the other.

5. A railway system as claimed in claim 4. said mechanical meansincluding cams movably mounted on said car. and cam followers associatedwith said wheels.

6. A railway system as claimed in claim 5, said mechanical meansincluding levers actuated by said shiftable means.

7. A railway system comprising a ground-level trackway.

a car ha ing supporting wheels rollingly engaging said ground-leveltrackway. a module having a bottom engageable onto the top of said car.wheels extending outwardly on opposite sides of said module. an elevatedtrackway having at least opposite end portions overlying a portion ofsaid ground level trackway and spaced apart by a length representingonly a part of the length of said ground level trackway. said elevatedtrackway having rails extending along opposite sides thereof along thelength thereof. said rails being laterally spaced from one another toreceive the wheels of said module. the opposite end portions of saidelevated trackway being disposed at a level to be engaged by the wheelson the module when the bottom of the latter is at rest on the car. anintermediate portion elevated higher than the opposite end portionsthereof and substantially higher above the ground level trackway thantop of a module when the bottom of the module is at rest on the top of acar and an inclined portion connecting said opposite end portions andsaid intermediate portion the opposite sides of the elevated trackway atthe opposite end portions thereof being spaced from one another so as topermit a car with a module thereon to pass therebetwecn. the oppositesides of said intermediate portion being connected to one another bycross webb.

1. A railway system, comprising a ground-level trackway, a car havingsupporting wheels rollingly engaging said groundlevel trackway, a moduleengageable onto the top of said car, said module having supportingwheels on opposite sides thereof shiftable between inwardly retractedposition wherein they lie inwardly of the sides of said car andoutwardly extended position in which they project outwardly beyond thesides of the car, mechanism, including a mechanical power source on saidcar, for shifting said module wheels between said positions, an elevatedtrackway having at least opposite end portions overlying a portion ofthe ground-level trackway and spaced apart by a length representing onlya portion of the length of said ground-level trackway, said elevatedtrackway having rails extending along the length thereof, said railsbeing laterally spaced from one another a distance corresponding to thedistance between the wheels on the opposite sides of the module when thelatter are extended outwardly and being engageable by said wheels andthe opposite end portions being disposed at a level to be engaged by theoutwardly extended wheels on the module when the latter is engaged onthe car, an intermediate portion elevated higher than the opposite endportions and substantially higher above the ground level trackway thanthe top of a module engaged on said car, and inclined portionsconnecting said opposite end portions and said intermediate portion. 2.A railway system as claimed in claim 1, the opposite end portions ofsaid elevated trackway having opposite sides spaced from one another soas to permit said car with a module thereon to pass therebetween, theintermediate portion having opposite sides connected to one another by across web.
 3. A railway system as claimed in claim 2, said car havingabutment means on the top thereof spaced apart from one another in thelongitudinal direction of the car for receiving the module therebetween.4. A railway system as claimed in claim 3, the mechanical power sourceof said mechanism comprising a ram disposed on the top of said car, saidmechanism further including shiftable means on said module engageable bysaid ram, And mechanical means operated by said shiftable means forextending and retracting said module wheels in response to movement ofsaid shiftable mechanism from one position to the other.
 5. A railwaysystem as claimed in claim 4, said mechanical means including camsmovably mounted on said car, and cam followers associated with saidwheels.
 6. A railway system as claimed in claim 5, said mechanical meansincluding levers actuated by said shiftable means.
 7. A railway systemcomprising a ground-level trackway, a car having supporting wheelsrollingly engaging said ground-level trackway, a module having a bottomengageable onto the top of said car, wheels extending outwardly onopposite sides of said module, an elevated trackway having at leastopposite end portions overlying a portion of said ground level trackwayand spaced apart by a length representing only a part of the length ofsaid ground level trackway, said elevated trackway having railsextending along opposite sides thereof along the length thereof, saidrails being laterally spaced from one another to receive the wheels ofsaid module, the opposite end portions of said elevated trackway beingdisposed at a level to be engaged by the wheels on the module when thebottom of the latter is at rest on the car, an intermediate portionelevated higher than the opposite end portions thereof and substantiallyhigher above the ground level trackway than top of a module when thebottom of the module is at rest on the top of a car, and an inclinedportion connecting said opposite end portions and said intermediateportion the opposite sides of the elevated trackway at the opposite endportions thereof being spaced from one another so as to permit a carwith a module thereon to pass therebetween, the opposite sides of saidintermediate portion being connected to one another by cross webb.